41.   In response, Orthodox religious parties in the Israeli Parliament had introduced legislation that would enshrine into law their monopoly on performing conversions, weddings and most funerals.

42.   In the election to choose a new prime minister and parliament, a new secular party emerged solely devoted to fighting against the religious parties.

43.   In the coming days, Netanyahu will hold negotiations with the three sets of religious parties that seek to join his government.

44.   It was a call to Barak, urging him not to bring the ultra-Orthodox Shas religious party into his ruling coalition.

45.   Late Monday night, he gambled again, astonishing ministers of a scrupulously religious Sephardic party by kicking them out of his government despite their importance to his coalition.

46.   Like other religious parties, it will block any challenge to the authority of the Orthodox rabbinate or legislation that it believes conflicts with Jewish law.

47.   Musharraf, who is considered a moderate, has retired or sidelined officers who resisted the alliance or who were too closely tied with the religious parties.

48.   On opening night Wednesday, Labor and Likud each had four spots, while the liberal Meretz had two, and two religious parties had one spot each.

49.   Our country is an Islamic country and the religious parties are very strong and they may create restlessness.

50.   Peres, unlike Rabin, has always had cordial relations with the religious parties and considers it imperative to widen the base of his ruling coalition.